NAACP NEWS

NAACP’s “Real State of Our Union” Refuted Trump’s Misleading Claims, Rallied Black Community to Vote in November

BALTIMORE (January 31, 2018) – On the night of President Trump’s first State of the Union Address, NAACP, the nation’s foremost civil rights organization, hosted its own rebuttal, “The Real State of Our Union,” hosted by acclaimed journalist, Roland Martin.In direct response to President Trump’s racism, detachment and disinterest towards African-Americans and immigrants, many in the advocacy community gathered at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. to have a candid and forthright conversation about the true politics of Trump’s first year in office.

While President Trump rallied for a wall on the border and credited his presidency for the drop in the Black unemployment rate, panelists at “The Real State of Our Union” called attention to key Trump policies that plague the Black community: voter suppression, an unequal criminal justice system, and the ostracizing of immigrants. The powerhouse panel urged participants to wield their power in the polls this November, using the midterm elections as a means to steer the country back on the course towards freedom and equality for all.

“We have to be steadfast on our course of resistance,” said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson. “Our right to vote, the quality of our children’s educations, and so much more is at risk. We must stay focused.” Bringing attention to the Trump administration’s repeated attempts at voter suppression and the need for the Black community to participate in the midterm elections, Johnson said, “In a democracy, our vote is our currency. We must protect it with everything we have and use it at every turn.”

With the sting of President Trump’s recent racist remarks towards immigrants of African descent still in the air, Johnson reminded participants of the importance of immigration and the significance of DACA’s promise to protect America’s most vulnerable residents – a promise that must be kept. Panelists encouraged people to urge Congress to fight for a Clean DREAM Act.

By the close of the event, it was clear that the one antidote to President Trump’s penchant for divisive policies, tactics, and rhetoric, is to vote in the November midterm elections. “In this moment, we have got to be clear it’s movement time,” said Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II. “We’ve got to take action every single day.”

What actions can you take?Text "NAACP" to 40649 or click on the link below to take the NAACP's PLEDGE TO VOTE!

New Lawsuit Filed against U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Response to Removal of Temporary Protective Status for Haitian Immigrants

January 24, 2018 — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s decision to rescind the Temporary Protective Status (TPS) designation for Haitian immigrants discriminates against immigrants of color, in violation of the Fifth Amendment, according to a new lawsuit filed today on behalf of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) by the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.

NAACP 108th NATIONAL CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS

BARACK OBAMA CITY-COUNTY BUILDING?

DANE COUNTY NAACP SAYS NO!

The NAACP Dane County Branch voted at its July meeting to formally oppose an idea floated by local lawmakers to name the Dane County City-County Building after former President Barack Obama. The NAACP is objects to the idea on grounds that naming a building that houses a portion of the county jail after the nation’s first black president is inappropriate.“The building is symbolic of the extreme racial disparities evident in the treatment of African Americans by the criminal justice system of the United States,” the NAACP resolution states.Greg Jones, president of NAACP Dane County, included the resolution in a letter Monday to the Dane County Board, the Madison City Council, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and Madison Mayor Paul Soglin stating the organization’s objections to the idea

Update:A joint committee of Dane County and the City of Madison has indefinitely postponed the idea of naming the City-County Building after former President Barack Obama. Instead, community input will be sought.

NAACP ADVOCATES FOR THE PEOPLE

Madison, WI--NAACP Dane County President, Greg Jones, testified during the Wisconsin Assembly's Committee on Public Benefit Reform public hearing against proposed legislation that would require child support compliance for FoodShare (food stamp) benefits. FoodShare Wisconsin was created to help stop hunger and to improve nutrition and health. FoodShare helps people with limited money buy the food they need for good health.

AB57 Synopsis: This bill prohibits certain individuals and parents who refuse to cooperate in determining the paternity of a child or establishing or enforcing a child support order from being eligible for FoodShare benefits. The bill also prohibits certain parents who refuse to cooperate in providing or obtaining support for their child or who are delinquent in child support payments and do not satisfy an exception specified in the bill from being eligible for FoodShare benefits. FoodShare, also known as the food stamp program and the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides benefits to eligible low-income households for the purchase of food.FoodShare is administered by the Department of Health Services. The federal government pays the benefits for FoodShare while the state and federal government share the cost of administration.

Federal Legislative Action!

POLICE TRAINING AND INDEPENDENT REVIEW

Conflict between law enforcement officials and the communities they serve throughout the nation, has sadly been featured with increasing prominence in the local and national news. From New York to Oakland, CA; from Minnesota to Florida, and everywhere in between racial and ethnic minorities are concerned that they are being treated differently, and often much more harshly, by law enforcement.

For more information on this legislation and how you can advocate for it, click the button below.

2017 ACT-SO COMPETITIONNATIONAL UPDATE

July 23, 2017, Baltimore, MD--NAACP Dane County first-time ACT-SO Competitor, Amadou Kromah, a Local ACT-SO Gold medalist, represented the Dane County Branch impressively by winning a National Silver medal in Photography, at the 39th NAACP National ACT-SO Competition held July 20 - 23, 2017 in Baltimore, MD. Amadou, a gifted and talented photographer, is the first NAACP Dane County ACT-SO competitor to medal nationally.We congratulate Amadou on this National Achievement!